Riville – Norman Countryside and Architectural History

Riville is an interesting destination if you would like to explore cycling routes, walking trails and architectural history. The town lies on the Véloroute du Lin; the “Le Bosc aux Moines” walking trail also starts at the church. These themes complement each other without making for the same kind of excursion: the Véloroute offers a connection to cycling, while the walking trail focuses on the Norman countryside and local architecture. Notable buildings and features include manor houses, a château, a farm and the Église Saint-Pierre.

Cycling route and walking trail

Riville’s location on the Véloroute du Lin gives it a connection to cycling. If you are considering the town for a cycling trip, you can take this route into account when choosing your destination.

The “Le Bosc aux Moines” walking trail starts at Riville’s church and leads through the Norman countryside. Along the way, you can see examples of local architecture: clos-masures, churches, châteaux and manor houses. This gives the walking route a different focus from the Véloroute.

Manor houses and château

The Manoir du Vivier was built at the beginning of the 16th century from stone, brick and flint. Roger Poisson, Lord of Riville, is named as its builder. The use of blue or blond flint mosaics on the manor house reflects the influence of the Italian Renaissance. The materials and mosaics each give the building a distinct architectural connection: flint is part of the construction, while the mosaics make the Renaissance influence visible. The Vivier, a body of water near the manor house, served as a fish reserve for the monks of Valmont Abbey.

The Château de Caumont was built in 1728 from brick and flint. Opposite the entrance are the remains of an oratory. It served as a place of prayer for the village’s hunters. The château and the oratory thus connect two different themes in the town’s history: the construction of a building in the 18th century and an earlier religious presence in village life.

Changing farm architecture

A manor house in Riville served as a place of rest for the clergy of Fécamp Abbey from 1412. The Ferme du Bosc-aux-Moines was built in the 19th century and replaced this earlier manor house. These two details show how the site changed over time: the clergy’s resting place belongs to the town’s earlier history, while the current name of the farm points to a building from the 19th century.

The dovecote at the Ferme du Petit Riville is another striking detail of local architecture. It was built in the 18th century and stands on a white-stone base. The lower section is decorated with diamond shapes made of black bricks. The contrast between the light stone base and the dark brick pattern makes the dovecote’s design particularly clear.

Church and art

The Église Saint-Pierre is particularly known for its statue of Saint Expédit. The church also houses a monumental painting bearing the coat of arms of Jean-Louis Ficquet de Normanville. Together, the statue and painting offer two specific points of interest for travellers interested in religious art: an image of a saint and a large-scale work featuring a coat of arms attributed to a named individual.

Discover more destinations: Dieppe, Sausseuzemare-en-Caux, Bosc-Roger-Sur-Buchy, Bretteville-Du-Grand-Caux, Le Tréport, Thiergeville, Autigny, Aubermesnil-Beaumais.

For an overview of the wider region: Seine-Maritime.